4 Answers

If you are concerned that your older family member’s driving is dangerous, watch for the following telltale signs that signal a decline in their driving abilities.

Do they have difficulty in turning their head, neck, or body while driving or parking?Do not have enough strength to turn the wheel quickly in case of an emergency?Become angry and frustrated easily while driving?

syreeta2 This is a danger for some elders, not to mention the other drivers on the road. Try talking to him about this he may be scared himself but he doesn't want to say it to you. Offer another means of transportation. If asking him doesn't work. You can switch keys, give him fakes... on his familiar key ring, you can disconnect the battery, something to that affect to keep him off the road. Don't feel guilty if your doing what's best for him. You would really feel guilt if you found out someone or he was hurt and you did nothing!!!

Mom's driving wasn't too bad or at least she had no accidents,and she didn't have Alz but she wasn't paying attention and left her purse too many times at various places. That meant she was driving without her proper ID and leaving herself vulnerable to credit card fraud. After the 5th time of my kids and me spending hours on the phone cancelling said credit cards, we sat her down and suggested she give up driving. We were thrilled she agreed to it so quickly and calmly. If she hadn't been so cooperative, we would've been forced to do it. It was time to hang up the car keys and she knew it. She sold her car with nary a tear. If a parent is dangerous on the road then they have to be forced to give up driving whether they like it or not. They're just as bad as drunk drivers, neither needs to be endangering others.

My mother had five wrecks in three months, all were her fault. She even pulled up to a Jerry's Rest., ran six feet over the sidewalk into their shrubs and knocked out a six foot glass window. The table moved and three people had to be taken to the hospital, one having a heart attack. She and her friend then went in to have breakfast. The manager informed her that they had to close and she kept arguing that she couldn't believe they were closing the restaurant for the day, as she and her friend really wanted to have breakfast.

She had Alzheimer's dementia. We tried for nine months to get her to surrender her license and have the State cancel. Neither happened and then the above happened. The last thing we did was take her to have a driver's test and she failed everything. My brother then asked to borrow the car to get to his work, as his car needed repair. She agreed, and he never took the car back. He told her that the engine had blown up.

Make sure to inspect your parent's car frequently for dents or pain of another color. Also, check with some of her/his friends who your parent drives around. In my mother's case, two of her friends informed me that their children told them they could not ride with my mother anymore. Call these people to see why. My mother was turning down busy intersections the wrong way and parking sideways.

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